Islanders can provide Health PEI with their input on the future of community-based health care by completing an online or print survey.
“This survey provides Health PEI with useful information to guide the development of community-based health care which is very important to Islanders, particularly seniors,” said Minister of Health and Wellness Robert Henderson. “I encourage everyone to join me in taking a few minutes to complete the survey.”
Health PEI will use the survey results to support planning for services that meet the needs of Islanders. The survey asks for feedback on community-based services such as primary care, chronic disease management, cancer screening, public health, children’s developmental services, home care, palliative care, geriatric care and community-based mental health and addiction services.
“Community-based health services are important as they are the first point of contact a person or family has with the health care system and it is important that we do everything we can to best meet their needs from the moment they walk through our doors,” said Dr. André Celliers, family physician and Medical Director for Health PEI - West. “This survey is an opportunity for every Islander to tell us what their health service experiences have been to date and what services we need to give more attention to so that we can make them better for our patients and more accessible in communities across the province.”
There have been several positive changes since 2011 when the survey was last conducted and 12,000 Islanders participated. Positive changes have included:
• more self-management education and clinician support for patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD and high blood pressure;
• increased screening for young children;
• better access to community-based mental health and addictions services across the province; and,
• Health PEI has been working closely with family physicians and nurse practitioners to improve access to same-day and next day appointments.
The survey was mailed to 12,000 households this year. It may be completed online in both official languages before the deadline of April 22nd. All responses are anonymous and confidential.
For more information or to complete the survey, visit www.healthpei.ca/community-health-survey (English version) or www.healthpei.ca/sondage-sante-communautaire (French version).